modelling a cutlery set, various plates, cups and pans etc... texture question

[meshcarver 12]

Hey up,

I'm about to start creating a set of cutlery and pots and pans for around the camp fires for my Stalker island.

There will be a plate, cup, metal pot, metal canteen and a few bones. These are visual decoration only, they hold no relevance so to speak.

They will be spread across a LARGE map more or less evenly and in clusters of towns etc, as will things like signposts for which I'm also wanting to find out the best model/texture arrangement.

My question is, would it be best to put them all on the same 1024*1024, or for each individual object to have its own texture sheet?

Bear in mind I want to place these individually, and also in some areas they will all be present around a fire, in other areas miles away, there will be just one or two, like a cup and plate inside a cabin on a table for instance.

Thanks for any advice guys-as I'll apply your answers to other objects I intend to make..! :D

I know this is a bit anal, but I really want to hit it right, so as to minimise problems with performance down the line. All these little things could add up... and here's a link to the Stalker island thread fyi:

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?142308-Large-S-T-A-L-K-E-R-inspired-Island

Marc

[max power 21]

I would do small texture maps separately. Later if you want to experiment you can atlas the textures into one large texture, and scale the UVs accordingly.